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Volume 2, Collection 2 Muriel Williams Battle High School
Friday, December 11, 2015
Terror In the West
The rise of ISIS and its global impact By: Hayden Elder
Above: The cast performed on elaborate sets and carried the audience away on a sea of song. Photographed by Morgan Evanoff.
Theater Department Performs Anything Goes
By: Morgan Evanoff
Battle High School’s dramatic arts program performed the musical Anything Goes this month, the second production of the school year. Directed by Mr. Rucker, Anything Goes is set on the ocean liner S. S. American heading to London. On the ship nightclub singer Evangelist Reno Sweeney is played by Montiera Ferrell-Nelson, who is accompanied by
a band of angels played by Pagie Flottman, Isabel Fagre, Kimberly Ellsworth, Lauren Young. The nightclub singer Reno’s good friend Billy Crocker, played by Cole Flottman, becomes a stowaway to be near his love, Hope Harcourt, who is played by Haley Mullen. Unfortunately Hope is engaged to the wealthy Lord Evelyn Oakleigh, played by Nicholas Reznick. Continued on page A5
ISIS (the common acronym for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) has occupied American news almost permanently for the past few years. The Islamic State maintains a powerful hold on the daily lives of everyone within a foot of a computer. With the recent attacks in Paris, ISIS followers have once again shown their strength and willingness to destroy the lives of anyone who opposes their radical version of Islam. Every day, ISIS becomes stronger. People are joining the Islamic State in droves, whether they are Syrian or Iraqi, Australian or American - followers come from every corner of the globe and every walk of life. ISIS’s message, unfortunately, seems to speak to masses of people; and it spreads like wildfire. What is truly alarming about ISIS’s message is it’s lack of truth. Leaders
of the Islamic State have taken liberties with Islam’s word, effectively turning the Quran into their own elastic clause. For instance, the Quran does call for jihad to be used in the event that Islam is threatened by an outside force. In the past few years, the term jihad has also become a common word in the Western Hemisphere. It refers to the ancient practice of preserving the religion if Islam’s future is at stake. Unfortunately, terrorism and terrorist groups have stretched the word far from its original intent. Jihad does not call for the use of military action to preserve Islam. Originally, military action in a jihad was a sort of last resort, and the murder of innocents – such as women, children, and invalids - has never been allowed. Continued on page A4
Wrestling with Change Coach Bradley’s first season as a Spartan
By: Miranda Mattingley After wrestling coach Ben Smith moved to St. Louis and the team said their sorrowful goodbyes, everyone knew how hard it was going to be for someone to fill his shoes. Replacing a beloved coach is no easy task, but first year coach Kyle Bradley is up to the challenge. Like Smith, Bradley believes in the importance of schoolwork and the necessity of keeping grades up. Bradley also has similar coaching techniques, but it's his intensity that sets them apart. Every practice Bradley screams, "your mind quits before your body does!" while the whole team carries 45 pound weights above their heads while running laps around the gym because one guy got lazy during conditioning. When one wrestler breaks a rule, Bradley has the whole team
run an extra mile. If a wrestler slacks on squats, Bradley has the team do another set of ten with their partner on their backs. These are only a few of the ways that Bradley is shaping his wrestlers to be better athletes. It’s guaranteed that if a wrestler survives Bradley, they will do things right the first time they're asked, no matter if that's in the gym or the classroom. “The thing about wrestling is that it teaches you a mindset that relates to everything in life. That’s why I love it. In life are you going to let problems take you down and pin you? No, you’re going to fight!” Bradley says during one of his prepractice speeches. Continued on page A5
Above: Malachai Gardner handfights against Centralia. Photographed by Kristin Tatters.
Ag Day Draws Herds
FFA chapter brings agriculture to Battle By: Josie Nichols Battle kicked off its third annual Agriculture Day this semester with great success. Since Battle’s opening FFA members have organized the day to educate students and staff about agriculture. FFA members say the focus is to show “animals and their different uses, and also about how much agriculture is used in everyday life.” Members brought livestock and
small animals that students might not see everyday, and invited local agricultural organizations to showcase their programs. Caitlyn Lancaster attended Ag Day expecting to see the usual cow, goats, and chickens. “I saw all those animals plus a horse, kittens, dogs, and pigs.” said Lancaster. Continued on page A2 Above: JauVonya Cole hangs out with a dairy cow during the activities. Photographed by Noah Doolady.
IN THIS ISSUE... NEWS
SENIOR FUNDRAISING by Breezy Day AG DAY REPORT by Josie Nichols FIELD TRIP FOR BUDDHISM by Emily Adams ACT PREP WEEK by Ross Terry SPARKLER FUNDRAISER by Adrian Maddox TIMELINE OF PROTESTS by Madalynn Owens and Noah Doolady
OP/ED
ISIS IN PARIS by Hayden Elder WINTER GAME REVIEW by Hayden Elder ANYTHING GOES OPINION by Noah Doolady INSPIRING EDUCATORS by Hannah Dietzel
SPORTS
WRESTLING by Miranda Mattingley ATHLETE PROFILE by Roxy Garcia BASKETBALL PREVIEW by Natalie Tiffany
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
ANYTHING GOES by Morgan Evanoff FEMINISM IN FILM by Noah Doolady WINTER FASHIONS by Hannah Dietzel BOOK REVIEW by Catt Harvey MUSIC REVIEWS by Madalynn Owens and Marc Chauvin